LYFE Kitchen Founders, Mike Roberts, Steve Sidwell and Mike Donahue celebrate the second LYFE Kitchen restaurant opening in Culver City, Calif., on Friday, March 8, where they honored their local partners and farmers. (PRNewsFoto/LYFE Kitchen)

CULVER CITY, Calif., March 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- At the second LYFE Kitchen grand opening celebration on Friday, March 8, 2013, CEO Mike Roberts announced aggressive Southern California growth plans. In addition to the Culver City restaurant opening, the transformational "lyfestyle" brand will be opening restaurants this year in Tarzana and West Hollywood, with several additional locations in the pipeline.

Roberts also announced to more than 100 new LYFE Kitchen restaurant employees and event guests -including community leaders, ambassadors, shareholders and charitable partner, Culver City Education Foundation- that LYFE Kitchen's first franchise agreement will be with Carey Cooper, who will expand the concept in Chicago, Ill. The brand is actively seeking additional corporate locations in Northern California and outstanding locations and talented franchisees nationwide, with a focus on Denver, New York City, Austin, Boston and Washington D.C.

"We look forward to strengthening our roots here in Southern California and expanding to new regions," said Roberts. "From the moment each location is selected until well after the first fork is raised, LYFE immerses itself in the local community and establishes strong relationships with suppliers, local community leaders, and charitable groups."

FROM FARM-TO-FORK

LYFE Kitchen's local growers and vendors assist in providing customers with great-tasting, fresh, high-quality food, while mitigating the overall environmental footprint. Following the grand opening event, LYFE Kitchen donated remaining produce to local charity, Chefs to End Hunger.

The menu includes Brussels sprouts from Weiser Family Farms, luscious berries from Thorne Family Farm, delicious organic greens from Kenter Canyon Farms, grass fed beef from Hearst Ranch and biodynamic wine on tap from Beckmen vineyards in Santa Barbara.

WORLD CLASS, CHEF-INSPIRED RECIPES

LYFE Kitchen's world class Chefs, Art Smith and Tal Ronnen, and Executive Chef Jeremy Bringardner develop an expansive variety of thoughtful recipes that include traditional favorites as well an extensive list of plant based dishes. LYFE Kitchen standards require that all dishes contain fewer than 600 calories and 1,000 mg of sodium, with most containing much less.

The warm and inviting ambiance of the restaurant aims to appeal to all five consumer senses, making LYFE Kitchen a respite from active daily life. The sixth sense is our commitment to the highest standards in environmental responsibility. From sustainable building materials, patio furniture made of recycled milk and juice cartons, bamboo tables and salvaged Sequoia wood community table, LYFE Kitchen seeks to model and inspire environmentally responsible practices. Working closely with sustainable builders Shangri-La Construction, all new LYFE Kitchen locations, beginning with Tarzana, CA and West Hollywood, CA, will be certified Platinum under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System™.

GROWING GREENS

A hallmark LYFE Kitchen element, the iconic herb wall represents the flavorful herbs and spices found in the great-tasting meals guests enjoy. As an indication of their commitment to the core message of sustainability, LYFE Kitchen Culver City partnered with Harvest To Home to install a hydroponic wall that grows more than 60,000 micro greens, including arugula, red Russian kale and bok choy.

FROM OUR KITCHEN TO YOURS

LYFE Kitchen Culver City offers bicycle deliveries, catering and online ordering to take the food from LYFE's kitchen directly to yours.

LYFE Kitchen's retail products are available at Ralph's and Gelson's in Southern California and nationally through Amazon.com and Home Shopping Network (HSN.com). LYFE Kitchen Retail is featuring its line of frozen entrees, soups and frozen treats at Natural Products Expo West, being held this week (March 8 – 10) in Anaheim, California. (See attached for additional locations.)

LYFE, Love Your Food Everyday, is a lifestyle restaurant. LYFE Kitchen combines natural ingredients with sustainable practices and delicious flavor profiles enhanced with spices and herbs to fuel and satisfy. All dishes are preservative and additive free and contain less than 600 calories and less than 1,000 mg of sodium. We aim to fulfill the need for delicious food that is convenient, affordable, and as important, good for you. For additional information, visit www.lyfekitchen.com or call 310-507-7955. For additional photos, visit www.facebook.com/LYFEKitchen.